LeFlore's McKinney receives 5A player of the year award

BIRMINGHAM -- Shanece McKinney swatted away a fit of nervousness -- in much the same way she has rejected opponents' jump shots -- Wednesday at the Mr./Miss Basketball luncheon.

McKinney walked to the front of a packed banquet room at the Birmingham News and accepted a plaque honoring her as the AHSAA Class 5A player of the year.

Give an assist to LeFlore coach Darrell Walton for the perfect word of advice for helping her get through it.

"Like coach said, if you want to major in sports broadcasting, you can do this," McKinney said.

McKinney joined 13 other players -- the top girls and boys player in the AHSAA's six classifications and the private school AISA -- at the banquet sponsored by the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.

A two-time Press-Register player of the year, the 6-foot-4 McKinney accepted her first statewide award. She finished fourth in Miss Basketball balloting, serving as a fitting end to her career before she heads to LSU this summer.

"As a player on and off the floor, she's going to be missed," Walton said. "She's a great student-athlete."

McKinney was the only player from southwest Alabama to be honored during Wednesday's event. Butler's Trevor Lacey won Mr. Basketball, the first junior to do so since Ronald Steele in 2002. Ramsey's Kaneisha Horn, who will play at Alabama, won Miss Basketball.